What's the quintessential D&D monster?

[welby]

A group of players who make jokes throughout an entire session, followed closely by the beholder and mind flayer.

 

[Gez]

Drow, beholders and illithid. Most especially because they're all copyrighted.

Eye tyrants and mind-flayers, yes.

But not the dark elves.

 

[Gez]

Drow, beholders and illithid. Most especially because they're all copyrighted.

Eye tyrants and mind-flayers, yes.

But not the dark elves.

 

[Staffan]

This is the cover of the 2e Monstrous Manual:

Which monster has center stage again? That's right, the Beholder.

 

[francisca]

I say owlbear, but maybe only 'cause I ran B2 too many times. Besides, having a player make a listen check, then handing the players who make the DC a scrap of paper which simply says: "HHHOOOOTTTT" always gets a good reaction.

A thought did occur to me that the D&D trolls are so unlike other trolls in myth, literature, and other games that they might be the quintessential D&D monster.

 

[Altalazar]

For starting off, gotta go with the cube, though green slime is a close second.

For tough monsters, you have to go with the beholder. I remember when I was a young lad, hearing about the soon to be televised D&D Cartoon - and what excited my young little mind the most about that, for some strange reason, was being able to see a Beholder in action. In the end, I was rather disappointed with the series, though I still watched it - and there eventually WAS a beholder, but they way they put it in was just terribly disappointing. I only vaguely recall it now.

I liked seeing beholders in the D&D Movie, though they obviously were not played right.

Speaking of which, I wonder if there really will be a second one - seems that the buzz on that has vanished...

 

[Aaron L]

Beholder, Mind Flayer, and Gelatinous Cube, in that order.

 

[jrients]

For iconic monsters in D&D, nothing beats the dragon. As far as original monsters go, I think the beholder wins. Its image has been with us since almost the beginning:

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

The Rust Monster.

With the various oozes, puddings, and jellies next.

 

[Dark Jezter]

I would say that dragons are the quintessential D&D monster, since they are mentioned in the title of the game itself.

However, since they aren't allowed, I'd vote for beholders. Mind flayers and gelatinous cubes would be coming in second.